Kitty Bubs' Nostalgic Starlet Bungalow

Tucked away in the middle of Hollywood lies Kitty's delightful little retreat amid the hustle and bustle of Sunset Boulevard. One of the things I loved about living in Los Angeles for 10 years was finding these little hidden pockets you stumble upon that stand on their own in the midst of the masses. This is exactly the kind of place Kitty has found herself in.

"These bungalows were built by Paramount Studios in 1918. They were originally used to house starlets from other parts of the country while they were staying in LA to shoot films" explains Kitty. The charm and history of these bungalows is seen and felt as soon as you walk away from the cramped street lined with average apartment buildings and step through the gates into a little green wooded community that has continued to thrive all of these years.

The bungalow has beautiful wood floors and many built in cabinets and bookcases that all add to its charm. The historical essence definitely isn't lost on Kitty who has a love of nostalgia herself. You can find family items, furniture, photographs, knick knacks and accessories that have been passed down to her over the years. You get a very good feel for what defines Kitty past and present through the eclectic treasures you find hiding all over her home.

My Style: Eclectic, vintage, utilitarian. I live and work in the same space so I like to be able to transform the rooms from office mode to home mode in neat ways, 60s bachelor pad style. Because the space is small and I like the house to be neat, I love finding multiple uses for my furniture. I have a sewing machine that doubles as a desk. I use trunks as mini shoe closets. In my row of decorative suitcases, one is a second sewing machine, one is a typewriter, and three others house supplies for my invitation business. I use my armoire as a supply closet. I write at my desk and work at the dining table. For entertaining, I set the table and use my computer a stereo.

Inspiration: Music, nature, function. I love and live for music so it plays an important role in creating the mood of my home. I get most of my inspiration from music, and I'm often motivated to change the look of a room by what I'm listening to at the time. I give Destroyer's album "Kaputt" most of the credit for the way my place is decorated at the moment, for instance. I love the feeling of living amid nature so I have quite a few nature-inspired items. Owls, trees, wood, bugs, stars, flowers, deer, moons, rainbows, cats, even giraffes can be found peeking out of bookcases, planters, or bottom shelves. It's surprising how creative we can be when we need an item to serve a purpose immediately. I love using objects that I've had forever in new and unconventional ways.

Favorite Element: There are so many wild & exotic plants, bushes, trees, and vines growing all over the courtyard and around the bungalows. Sitting on my patio and looking around our little alcove in the evening, it's easy to imagine what it might have been like for a starlet staying here in the 1920s.

Biggest Embarrassment: I love all kittens, but the fact that a litter box must exist in an accessible place in my house will forever be embarrassing.

Biggest Challenge: I have a ton of posters from concerts, framed records, photos, and art that I love to have around. I really enjoy the feeling of having so many windows in my place, but they just don't leave much wall space for huge pieces or collections. I've had to stash some of my usual wall art and pick out my smaller favorites for the spaces in between windows.

Proudest DIY: My kitchen curtains. They're French fries!

What Friends Say: I've heard a lot of variations on the sentence, "This is exactly what I would imagine your place to look like".

Best Advice: Don't be afraid to keep changing your place. Getting a new bowl from my Grandma prompted me to change the living room area. Receiving hand-me-down pillows and a bed skirt finally defined the look of my bedroom. When I redecorate even a little bit, I feel like I get a whole bunch of new energy out of that room.

Alysha is a photographer and designer living in Seattle who loves dark chocolate, tea, and all things furry. In her spare time you'll find her with paint in her hair renovating her 1919 Craftsman and sharing the process on her blog Old House New Tricks.